What are the chances of recovering a stolen, turned-off phone?

Unfortunately, the chances are pretty low. Once a phone's turned off, tracking it becomes really difficult unless you're lucky and have tracking options enabled before it was stolen.

It depends on the phone type. For instance, iPhones can still send their location to other Apple devices, even when they're powered off. If you had Find My iPhone set up and your phone is locked to your iCloud, there's still a small chance it could be tracked.

Definitely call your provider to see if they can help lock or wipe the phone. If it's an Android linked to your Google account or an iPhone, that strategy can provide extra security.

Don't forget to officially report it! If you don't, your chances of recovery drop to zero. Also, contacting your provider is a must; they might be able to blacklist the phone and prevent it from being used.

It's rare for stolen phones to be found and returned. Even if you see someone suspicious who might have taken it, confronting them could lead to trouble. It's best to let law enforcement handle it.